AHS Views

A drug cocktail designed by party goers rather than scientists is being abused in Australia. If you think this isn’t a precursor to needing drug addiction help, think again. First you take a sleeping pill - Ambien (Stilnox in Australia) - and you mix it with alcohol and caffeinated drinks to produce hallucinations. Quite a mixture, and not what the doctor ordered. Dr. Fulde from St. Vincent’s Hospital in Australia says he sees five cases a week. “When you combine them you are really playing Russian roulette.” he said. “The brain loses control and you lose control.”  One woman mentioned in an online news article said Stilnox (Ambien) has become a popular party drug among her friends. However, the most disastrous part of the story could be a report that players from the National Ruby League (NRL) are also abusing these drugs. They are using the mix as prescribed by other party goers, caffeine drinks followed by prescription drugs handed out by the team doctors. Perhaps it leads to a no holds barred rugby match with a few psychotic NRL players. If this is true, the Commissioner of the league or the President should read a speech by Mr. Andrew Demetriou of the Australian Football League in December of 2007. Mr. Demetriou understands the problems of prescription drug addiction, it sounds like the team doctors of the National Rugby League don’t. Drug addiction help services are necessary for people who are addicted to or dependent on prescription drugs - even if they are athletes.